Lakes` 49th Avenue Widening Plan Questioned

May 7, 1985|By Alan Cherry, Staff Writer

LAUDERDALE LAKES — While trying to solve the vehicular problems of an overcrowded Northwest 49th Avenue, not enough consideration has been given to pedestrians, according to City Councilman Sam Goldstein.

Goldstein aired his concerns at a Monday morning Public Works Committee meeting, in which council members met with representatives of the major property owner in the area.

Tentative plans would have the busy two-lane road widened to five lanes from Oakland Park Boulevard south to the city limits.

``You people have failed to take into account anybody but the Florida Medical Center,`` Goldstein told attorney Ed Stacker and two engineers who designed the improved road. Stacker was representing Dr. Maxwell Dauer, who has major financial interests in the medical center and a neighboring shopping center.

Goldstein said he has been frustrated that the plans to widen Northwest 49th Avenue do not include traffic lights or stop signs at Northwest 26th Court or Northwest 29th Court.

The crowded traffic conditions have led to a city building moratorium along 49th Avenue, south of Oakland Park Boulevard. The moratorium is scheduled to expire this month, but city officials are considering extending it through November.

Stacker said Dauer has agreed to pay for about $600,000 in improvements to the road, including a new shopping center entrance at Oakland Park Boulevard, footing the bill to widen 49th Avenue adjacent to his properties and improving the parking and traffic pattern at the Florida Medical Center.

The entire project is expected to cost about $1 million. No plans have been formulated to determine who would pay the balance of the construction, although city officials are considering a special assessment to the other property owners along Northwest 49th Avenue.

In exchange, Dauer has requested that the city lift the moratorium and approve a series of new buildings, as well as expansions of existing facilities.

Dauer has plans to add 240 beds to the Florida Medical Center, build a new 60-bed psychiatric and gerontology hospital, plus construct new medical and office buildings.